Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III underwent a voluntary drug test on Monday, November 22.
The tandem went to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headquarters to take the test around noon.
"What we underwent was not the ordinary testing. PDEA uses a MULTI DRUG testing kit. It can check all types of illegal drugs. Encompassing holistic drug tests," Sotto told reporters.
"Ordinary testing only checks marijuana and shabu," he added.
Their testing comes after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed that one of the presidential aspirants for the 2022 national elections was into cocaine.
"We have a candidate using cocaine," Duterte said in a speech in the province of Oriental Mindoro.
"That is why I am wondering, 'What has this person done? What contribution has he made for the Philippines?"
Although he did not name the person, Duterte hinted that the presidential hopeful comes from a well-known and rich family whose name means “strong” and is known for its patriarch.
Earlier, Lacson said he is “1,000%” certain that the President was not referring to him.
“I have never been addicted to drugs all my life, so I have no problem with that. In fact, we should all undergo random testing to make it more credible. I understand drug toxins may dissipate after 72 hours,” Lacson said in a statement.
Both Lacson and Sotto are anti-drug advocates.
